Apparatus for illuminating handbags



5. J. LINS ETAL APPARATUS FOR ILLUMINATING HANDBAGS Filed Sept. 29, 1964 5 0 m Ewan E. r. mfi Em my wmm m Wm Feb. 28., 1967 F ICE; 1.

United States Patent 3,307 027 APPARATUS FOR ILLUMINATING HANDBAGS Stanley 3. Lins and Raymond G. Lins, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Harry W. Grebe, Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Sept. 29, 19%, Ser. No. 460,025 (llaims. (Cl. 240-6. 35)

The present invention relates generally to a device for illuminating handbags, and more specifically to such a device which is substantially universally adaptable to a plurality of differently designed handbags and the like.

Illuminating devices for handbags, and particularly for ladies handbags, have been proposed and devices for various specific designs, opening arrangements, and the like, however, these devices have not been readily and generally universally adaptable for use in connection with a variety of different handbag designs. Thus, the device may be readily installed in a given handbag or transferred from one to another without any significant difiiculty. It is well known that the users of handbags are generally unfamiliar with mechanical and electrical arts, and hence the simplicity of the construction of the apparatus of the present invention and its ease of introduction or installation in a handbag is deemed a significant advantage in the normal usage of the lighting appliance.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, an illuminating device for a handbag is provided which in cludes a first enclosure for housing a bulb or lamp means, a battery means, and a conductor linking the battery to the lamp means. A portion of the conductor extends outwardly from the enclosure and is broken by a normally closed switch means which is encapsulated within a second enclosure, the second enclosure being adapted to be mounted on the surface of the frame opening members. Thus, when the bag is closed, the switch contacts will be actuated and maintained in open disposition. When the bag is opened, the switch contacts close, thereby providing electrical continuity between the battery and the lamp only when the handbag is open. Both of the enclosures, that is, the first enclosure which houses the lamp and the battery and the second enclosure which houses the switch, are provided with a film or layer of pressure sensitive adhesive along one surface thereof. This permits the two enclosures to be readily mounted along the appropriate surfaces of the handbag, the first enclosure being secured or mounted in the handbag per se, the second enclosure being mounted on the U-shaped frame members and adapted to be actuated by the opening and closing thereof.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a substantially universally adaptable illuminating device for use in connection with a variety of designs and patterns of handbags.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved illuminating device for handbags and the like which includes a switch means which is readily mounted on the closure surface of a handbag and actuated upon the opening and closing thereof.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved generally adaptable means for mounting an illuminating device along the interior surface of the covering material for a handbag.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an illuminating device for use in ladies handbags and having an extremely simple and accessible housing or enclosure which permits the ready replacement of components in the system.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an opened ladys handbag having the illuminating device of the present invention mounted in operative relationship therewith;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detail sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIGURE 2, and illustrating the normally closed switch mechanism utilized in connection with the apparatus of the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a detail sectional view of the device shown in FIGURE 4.

In accordance with the preferred modification of the present invention, the ladys handbag as shown in FIG- URE 1 and being generally designated is provided with an illuminating device generally designated 11. The device includes a first enclosure 12 which provides a housing for the lamp means, the battery means and a portion of the conductor linking the battery to the lamp. The apparatus further includes a second enclosure or the like 13 which is utilized to encapsulate the switching mechanism utilized to control the flow of current between the battery and the lamp. It will be observed that the handbag 10 is of conventional design, and utilizes a pair of U-shaped hinged frame opening members 16 supporting the bag covering 14 thereon. A conventional Clasp or the like 15 is utilized to maintain the frame opening members in closed disposition.

Turning now to FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the enclosure 12 houses a battery 18 along with lamp 19, conventional retaining means or the like being utilized to hold the battery 18 and the lamp 19 in their respective positions within the enclosure 12. A base conductor 20, fabricated from beryllium copper or the like makes contact with the base of the battery or cell 18, while a second conductive member as at 21 makes contact with the other pole of the batter-y 18. The member is held in resilient contact against the base tip 22 of the bulb 19, while the ring member 23 of the conductive rod 24 is utilized to make electrical contact with the threaded portion of the bulb 19, and to otherwise hold the bulb firmly in place.

The conductive leads 25 and 26 extend between the conducting member 21 and the conducting rod 24, the free end portions of the conductors 25 and 26 being connected across the contacts of the normally closed switch 28 Which is retained within the electrically insulating enclosure 13. Switch 28 is provided with a pair of flexible or resilient tines or fingers 29 and 30 which are arranged to make contact as at 31. The insulating spacer 32 separates the individual tines or fingers 29 and 30 along a substantial portion of the extent thereof, contact being possible at the tip portion 31 of the time 30. Flexible member 29 is arranged to be held against the tine 30 in normally closed disposition, however when a force is applied in the direction of the arrow 34, the individual tines or elongated blades are physically separated. A U shaped frame element 33 maintains the structure including the tines and the like in proper relative disposition. The leads 25 and 26 are attached as by soldering to the individual blades of the switch as at 35 and 36.

The encapsulating material of the enclosure 13 is shown at 37, and is resilient, deformable, and preferably relatively thin in cross section. The enclosure has at least one substantially flat major surface. One of the major surfaces is provided with an adhesive film as at 39 in order to mount, secure, or otherwise hold the enclosure 13 in contact with the surface of the frame 16. For ease in 3 mounting the switch element, the adhesive 39 is preferably pressure sensitive.

It will be appreciated that the enclosure 12 is preferably adapted for mounting along the inner surface of the handbag covering material 14, with an adhesive layer being disposed as at 40. This layer of adhesive is also preferably pressure sensitive in order to accommodate the ready mounting of the lighting device or the transfer of the device from one handbag to another.

The container 12 is preferably fabricated from a substantially transparent or translucent material such as molded plastic or the like. The cover member 41 is likewise transparent or translucent, is preferably flexible, and is adapted to be secured to the back plate 42 of the enclosure 12 by means of the adhesive layer 43. Accordingly, adhesive layer 43 is preferably pressure sensitive in order that the various components in the encloure 12 may be readily replaced when required.

In actual use, the individual adhesive layers 39 and 40 will be covered by a protective layer or the like until the apparatus is to be mounted in a handbag. The protective films or layers may be removed, and the individual elements placed in proper relative disposition within the handbag enclosure. The switch member 28 held in enclosure 13 is mounted along the surface of the frame 16 and the unit is ready for operation. It will be appreciated that the device may be transferred from one handbag to another, by merely lifting and removing the unit from one handbag and installing it in another. Because of the simplicity of the design, however, it may be desirable to maintain the unit in one handbag, and dispose of it when the handbag is no longer desired.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus of the present invention is well adapted for use in connection with devices other than ladies handbags and the like. Because of the design of the switch and because of the manner in which it is enclosed in the foamed material, and because of the availability of the pressure sensitive adhesive, it is possible to adapt the unit for illuminating other enclosures. 'For example, an enclosure having surfaces which are relatively movable, opening and closing, may be equipped with the illuminating device of the present invention. The enclosures include glove compartments in automobiles, ordinary pull drawers, and the like.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. An illuminating device for handbags having relatively movable and substantially rigid mating frame opening members supporting the handbag covering, said device comprising a lamp, a battery, conductor means linking said lamp and battery, and switch means disposed along said conductor means, an enclosure housing said larnp, battery, and a portion of said conductor means and having an adhesive layer secured to the under surface thereof for mounting said enclosure along the inner surface of said handbag covering, said switch being relatively thin in cross section, having two contacts including a fixed and a movable contact, and said switch being encapsulated within an electrically insulated enclosure fabricated from resilient mate-rial with a relatively flat major surface having a substantial surface area, with an adhesive film being disposed therealong, said adhesive film being arranged to secure said encapsulated switch along said frame opening, whereby said fixed and movable contacts are in engagement when the handbag is open and upon closing of the handbag, one of the frames thereof acts upon the switch and through pressure which compresses the resilient switch housing moves the movable contact out of engagement with the fixed switch contact, the arrangement being such that when the contacts are closed, the circuit between said battery and said lamp is closed.

2. An illuminating device for handbags having'relatively movable and substantially rigid mating frame opening members supporting the handbag covering, said device comprising a lamp, battery, conductor means linking said lamp and battery, and switch means disposed along said conductor means, a first enclosure having a translucent portion housing said lamp, battery, and a portion of said conductor means and having an adhesive layer secured to the under surface thereof for mounting said enclosure along the inner surface of said handbag covering, said switch being relatively thin in cross section, having two contacts including a fixed contact and a movable contact, the switch being encapsulated within an electrically insulated second enclosure fabricated from resilient material with a relatively flat major surface having a substantial surface area, with an adhesive film being disposed therealong, said adhesive film being arranged to secure said encapsulated switch along said frame opening whereby when said frame members open said bag, said contacts are in engagement and that upon closing the handbag one of the frames acts upon the switch and through pressure which compresses the resilient switch housing moves the movable contact out of engagement with the fixed switch contact, the arrangement being such that contacts when engaged are permitted to close the circuit between said battery and said lamp.

3. The illuminating device as disclosed in claim 2 being particularly characterized in that at least one wall of said first enclosure may be opened.

4. The illuminating device as disclosed in claim 2 being particularly characterized in that the under surface of said first enclosure is provided with a layer of resilient material along the extent thereof.

5. An illumintaing device for handbags having relatively movable and substantially rigid mating frame opening members supporting the handbag covering, said device comprising a lamp, battery, conductor means linking said lamp and battery, and switch means disposed along said conductor means, a first enclosure having a translucent portion housing said lamp, battery, and a portion of said conductor means and having an adhesive layer secured to the under surface thereof for mounting said enclosure along the inner surface of said handbag covering, said switch being relatively thin in cross section, having a pair of elongated blades, one fixed and one movable, forming normally closed contacts, and being encapsulated within an electrically insulated second enclosure fabricated from resilient material with a relatively fiat major surface having a substantial surface area with an adhesive film being disposed therealong, said adhesive film being arranged to secure said encapsulated switch along said frame opening whereby when said frame members open, the said contacts are in engagement and that when said handbag is closed one of the frames acts upon the switch and through pressure which compresses the resilient switch housing moves the movable contact out of engagement with the fixed switch contact, said normally closed contacts being permitted to close the circuit between said battery and said lamp.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,268,846 6/ 1918 Holton 2406.45 2,520,503 8/1950 Henning 240-59 2,534,945 12/1950 Booth 240-645 3,239,658 3/ 1966 Castaldo 240--6.45

NORTON ANSI-IER, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES C. LOGAN II, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR HANDBAGS HAVING RELATIVELY MOVABLE AND SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID MATING FRAME OPENING MEMBERS SUPPORTING THE HANDBAG COVERING, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A LAMP, A BATTERY, CONDUCTOR MEANS LINKING SAID LAMP AND BATTERY, AND SWITCH MEANS DISPOSED ALONG SAID CONDUCTOR MEANS, AN ENCLOSURE HOUSING SAID LAMP, BATTERY, AND A PORTION OF SAID CONDUCTOR MEANS AND HAVING AN ADHESIVE LAYER SECURED TO THE UNDER SURFACE OF FOR MOUNTING SAID ENCLOSURE ALONG THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID HANDBAG COVERING, SAID SWITCH BEING RELATIVELY THIN IN CROSS SECTION, HAVING TWO CONTACTS INCLUDING A FIXED AND A MOVABLE CONTACT, AND SAID SWITCH BEING ENCAPSULATED WITHIN AN ELECTRICALLY INSULATED ENCLOSURE FABRICATED FROM RESILIENT MATERIAL WITH A RELATIVELY FLAT MAJOR SURFACE HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL SURFACE AREA, WITH AN ADHESIVE FILM BEING DISPOSED THEREALONG, SAID ADHESIVE FILM BEING ARRANGED TO SECURE SAID ENCAPSULATED SWITCH ALONG SAID FRAME OPENING, WHEREBY SAID FIXED AND MOVABLE CONTACTS ARE IN ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE HANDBAG IS OPEN AND UPON CLOSING OF THE HANDBAG, ONE OF THE FRAMES THEREOF ACTS UPON THE SWITCH AND THROUGH PRESSURE WHICH COMPRESSES THE RESILIENT SWITCH HOUSING MOVES THE MOVABLE CONTACT OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FIXED SWITCH CONTACT, THE ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT WHEN THE CONTACTS ARE CLOSED, THE CIRCUIT BETWEEN SAID BATTERY AND SAID LAMP IS CLOSED. 